Reflective – WaywardSundial

Core Value 1. My work demonstrates that I used a variety of social and interactive practices that involve recursive stages of exploration, discovery, conceptualization, and development.

I met this goal throughout the majority of my works that had to deal with my research project due to the fact I had to go from one source to another that was similar to one another. This would would lead me to the most condensed and well informed piece of information relevant to the topic, where I made an extension of this in my writing. My rebuttal essay required me to “explore” different points I could make that was relevant, using the sources to further my point and to counter any rebuttals. Due to the nature of the rebuttal essay, it was easy for me to develop practices that lead me to writing that utilized critical thinking, and extending one point to another.

Core Value 2. My work demonstrates that I read critically, and that I placed texts into conversation with one another to create meaning by synthesizing ideas from various discourse communities.

In my causal essay, I believe I portrayed this value the most clearly by me transferring one key idea to another, especially with dispersants and the effect they have on the environment. An example of this is I talked about how dispersants make oil spills more harmful for the environment, but also used writing skills to explain how the dispersants themselves are bad for the ocean. In order for me to do this, I learned about the actual definitions of the topics I was discussing as well as all the specifics necessary to push along the point I wanted to. From there I was able to conceptualize the overall theme for my research paper, using the different information that was learned to support each other that would lead for the most solid argument I could make.

Core Value 3. My work demonstrates that I rhetorically analyzed the purpose, audience, and contexts of my own writing and other texts and visual arguments.

My visual rhetoric paper seems to most accurately portray that I grasp this core value. With an advertisement video seeking to raise donations for relief efforts, the video that was chosen was lead by a dollar bill taking the shapes of different utilities that can be used in relief efforts. My writing made it clear to summarize what was going on in the screen, which was translated to my writing in and of itself by explaining in depth deeper meanings that certain things could have. By doing this I analyzed each scene very closely, which lead to a greater understanding overall of the work. The audience for the video that I analyzed was for people that may be so inclined to donate, and the analysis that I made shows how the people who developed the video was trying to make the most compelling argument to donate, even though some points could be interpretative. I try to incorporate this into all of my essays in general because I feel that by being clear helps eliminates the possibility of confusion in a reader.

Core Value 4: My work demonstrates that I have met the expectations of academic writing by locating, evaluating, and incorporating illustrations and evidence to support my own ideas and interpretations.

Throughout my research paper, I used scientific evidence to support my claims in the most clear and efficient way possible. I showed that I was capable of following standard academic procedures with citing, quotations, paragraph structure amongst other important specific topics. I was also able to use my research to further my point in a rhetorical way that made it obvious I knew how to transfer subjects from scientific evidence to benefit my thesis.

Core Value 5. My work demonstrates that I respect my ethical responsibility to represent complex ideas fairly and to the sources of my information with appropriate citation.

Although I always try to portray information in a light that is most relevant to the truth of a subject, I feel this is best shown in my definition essay. I explained what dispersants were and what they do to the ocean. I did discuss other forms of pollution to show the contrast that although dispersants are made to help the ocean, it actually causes more harm than good. I genuinely tried my best to explain each topic with the most accuracy that I could muster, and extend that information to my writing in later essays. Although a lot of the sources that I used had some form of emotional ties what with how harmful ocean pollution can be to marine life and humans, I tried to remain logical with all topics that I brought up. In doing this I feel that I made the definition paper the most trustworthy with nothing to derail it from discussing definitions and the facts about dispersants and pollutants.